Shakur Stevenson, the lightweight champion from Newark, got fans laughing this week with a social media mix-up. He mistook someone in Canelo Álvarez's Saudi Arabia training crew for NFL star Antonio Brown.
"Swear I thought that was my bro Antonio Brown," Stevenson tweeted about a photo of Canelo and his trainer Eddy Reynoso with their entourage. The tweet quickly caught fire, with amused fans admitting they also did a double take.
This lighthearted moment came right after Stevenson had to smooth things over with Saudi boxing officials. He'd publicly criticized Riyadh Season, a key boxing event organizer in the region, just days before.
Stevenson changed his tune and tweeted an apology:
"Excited about my next fight; it was a misunderstanding between Turki and the team. My apologies on my part for overreacting."
This olive branch to Turki Alalshikh, who's behind Riyadh Season's boxing events, was a big shift. Stevenson had earlier suggested talks with the Saudis fell apart over money and poor communication.
The champ's quick reversal might be a smart move. Boxing's landscape is changing, with Saudi Arabia becoming a major player. Canelo, for example, has signed a four-fight deal in the region.
Stevenson's own fight plans are up in the air. He'd been calling out Gervonta Davis for a mega-fight, but Davis hasn't responded. Now, Stevenson's looking at William Zepeda as a potential opponent. The two were set to face off earlier this year, but that fell through.
All this Twitter drama has put Stevenson back in the spotlight. His mix-up with Antonio Brown lightened the mood after a tense exchange with Saudi officials. For a boxer known for being outspoken online, a bit of humor and humility might help Stevenson land his next big fight.
